Does anyone know the information behing this John W. Gardner quote?

The full quote is, "History never looks like history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always feels uncomfortable." John W. Gardner was LBJ's Secretary of Health and Human Services. Among other things, he was responsible for the implementation of Medicaid as part of Johnson's "Great Society" plan and the overhaul of the U. S. education system. He resigned from office due to his opposition to Johnson's escalation of the Vietnam War. I did not find a date, place, or specific speech for the quote. I feel he was referring to our involvement in the Vietnam War; however, he did not die until 2002, so he could have been referencing any later event that evoked similar feelings in him.